I woke up Christmas Day morning with no tree, toys or eggnog, and I understood how Jewish children could feel left out on Christmas mornings as non-Jewish neighbor kids ride new bikes and try out other presents. Like Jewish kids, I had no gifts that morning.
\”This project marks the convergence of two traditions, without detracting from the integrity of either one,\” said Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels of Beth Shir Sholom, the \”Progressive Reform\” congregation long active in interfaith relations. \”In both traditions, trees symbolize new life and hope.\”
For the first time in my adult life I\’m dating a Jewish girl.
Her father\’s Catholic — an Italian — but according to my
rabbi, \”She\’s all good.\”
(Maybe he didn\’t use those exact words, but something to that effect.)
Carrie and I bicker but never have any real fights; that is not until Christmastime. She was raised with Christmas in her house. Chanukah was a pool they may have dipped their toes into out of some traditional obligation, but it was Christmas that they jumped into cannonball style.
\”I see Christmas as a cultural and family holiday,\” Joe Roth said, while the movie itself carries two main messages. It\’s first about the sense of family and community that supercedes any particular holiday. Secondly, it\’s a satire on the over-commercialization of Christmas.\”
Christmas Day found some Southern California Jews volunteering at social service agencies, some working and still others marking the holiday with a Jewish tradition — eating Chinese food and going to movies.
Based on \”How the Grinch Stole Christmas\”. (With apologies to Dr. Seuss)
While I don\’t belong in Christmas festivities, I don\’t enjoy the season\’s organized Jewish events. And so, I\’m more confused than Anne Heche on a trip to Fresno.
Enjoyable, unique experience, totally different type of job, mostly outdoors, great fun, good pay. Santas needed. Holiday spirit a must.
\’Tis the season when children in public schools face the December Dilemma. As part of a classroom lesson, Jewish youngsters may be given Christmas trees to color. During holiday music programs, they may find themselves acting in a nativity scene or singing \”Silent Night.\” Santa Claus may show up on campus, passing out candy canes and asking them what they want for Christmas.
When my daughter, Samantha, was 6, I got a call from our synagogue\’s Hebrew-school principal. \”Do you have a Christmas tree?\” DiDi asked.
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